WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Thursday Times) — A day after the United States released its long-anticipated Digital Asset Framework, a high-level meeting took place in Washington between Bilal Bin Saqib, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain, and Bo Hines, Executive Director of President Donald Trump’s Council of Advisers on Digital Assets.
The July 31 discussion focused on global coordination for cryptocurrency legislation and explored Pakistan’s aspirations to become a regional hub for Web3 innovation. The meeting marks the opening of what both sides have described as a “strategic dialogue on digital assets,” with implications for financial regulation, blockchain development, and bilateral technology collaboration.
This engagement follows Saqib’s extensive visit to the United States in June, during which he met with key U.S. lawmakers, including Senators Cynthia Lummis, Tim Sheehy, and Rick Scott. He also held meetings with New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Bo Hines, who has emerged as one of the administration’s most active voices on digital assets policy.
Bilal Bin Saqib, a prominent voice in Pakistan’s blockchain community, also serves as the Chief Executive of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC). The PCC functions as the country’s primary regulatory and advisory body for virtual assets, and is playing a crucial role in developing Pakistan’s national crypto strategy.
The Council has been tasked with preparing licensing frameworks for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), advising on taxation and compliance mechanisms, and enabling the integration of blockchain across sectors such as public services, banking, education, and land records. A draft law titled the Virtual Assets Regulation Act is currently under parliamentary review in Islamabad, with provisions influenced by consultations held during Saqib’s U.S. tour.
The alignment between the two nations was seen by observers as both symbolic and strategic. The launch of the U.S. Digital Asset Framework, which outlines regulatory clarity for decentralised finance (DeFi), stablecoins, NFTs, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), provides a timely opportunity for collaboration. Pakistani officials indicated that they hope to model parts of their regulatory approach after this framework, while also addressing local needs and Islamic finance principles.
The White House has described the Digital Asset Framework as a “foundational step” toward securing America’s position in the evolving global crypto economy. Pakistan’s efforts to keep pace with this evolution highlight its growing ambitions in the digital realm. Officials from both countries confirmed that further technical meetings are planned in the autumn, including working groups on anti-money laundering compliance, investor protections, and cross-border innovation sandboxes.
For Pakistan, this engagement offers more than regulatory advice. It is a chance to elevate its position in global fintech and become a digital finance corridor between the Gulf, South Asia, and the West. For the United States, it signals that allies are willing to co-develop standards for an increasingly decentralised financial world.
